If you just got an acoustic guitar and want
to learn how to take better care of your
instrument, what you will find here are a
few useful words of advice.

Let's face it. It's a basic thing to learn how to play
acoustic guitar. That's why there's so many guitars bought
each and every year. However, it's another thing to actually learn to be good at the art. And remember that it's not just about
learning to play. You also need some
information regarding the instrument itself and
what you need to do to take care of it.

The vast majority of acoustics are created
from wood and are usually hollow. They are sensitive to
changes in climate, such as extreme heat
or extreme cold. It's dead easy for parts of the
guitar to warp or otherwise get damaged depending on how you
house it and what it is exposed to daily. Think about the old cassette tape and how it
would melt into a useless mess if left on the dashboard of your car on a hot day.

One of the primary needs for most instruments is a good case. It should be water
resistant and also provide protection from heat.
Black cases will absorb heat more than
lighter colored enclosures, so remember that
when shopping for one for your guitar. There are soft shell cases and hard shell cases. In most situations, I would endorse the hard shell case
unless your budget prohibits it.

Guitar strings are sensitive to environmental changes as well. Have you experienced how
quickly guitars go out of tune, especially if you put on a new
set of strings? The neck of the guitar will give and let go
depending on the type of strings you use, and if you settle on a particular gauge of string, it's probably the best
thing you can do, as the shock of going from one gauge of
string to another isn't good for your guitar.
Also, never take all the strings off your guitar at once, as
that might cause warping of the neck. Change them one at
a time, as this will keep the tension on your instrument's neck constant.

If you can, it's a nice idea to have
at least two guitars, one that you use for practice and another that you keep for
performances. Your practice guitar doesn't have to be
great, something in the hundred dollar price
range. You should't have to replace the strings
on it as much as the one you use for performances.

When cleaning your guitar, never use water
or furniture polish. Just use a clean cloth and wipe the dust. Try
to not wipe so hard that you affect the finish of your guitar. And don't
go crazy. Your guitar should have its own natural
character, and part of this is letting it get
used and worn in an everyday fashion.